Ladder



June 9, 1925. 1,540,937

E. F. GIVENS ET. AL

LADDER Filed Dec. 2 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 9, 1925.

umreo sures c EDWARD r. GIvENs AND LYcnRGus LINDSAY, F

I.os ANGEtEs, CALIFORNIA; sari) G-IVENS ASSIGNOR T0 W. W. LINESBA.

LADDER.

Application fi led December as, 1921. Serial No. 525,305.

To all whom it may canoe-m:

Be it known that we, EDWARD F. Givnrrs and LYOURGUS LINDSAY, citizens of the United States, and residents of Los Angeles',

6 in the county of Los 'Arigeles and State of California, have invented a new and useful Ladder, of which the following is a specification. A

This invention relates to extension step ladders and is particularly directed to a ladder which in one instance may be used as a step ladder and in another as anextension ladder.

An object or" the invention is to provide a ladder comprising two separable units having cooperating disengagea'ble interlocking members movable out of cooperative relation when the device is used as an extension ladder and capable of being readily connected into cooperative relation when the device is to be used as a step ladder.

Another object is to provide a two part separable ladder having cooperating interlocking brackets adapted tobe' brought into cooperative relation for pivotally joining the two parts foruse as a step ladder and interlocking without subjecting the pivot connection to a torsional force when the parts are spread apart so as to prevent a disengageent ofthe brackets while the device is set up as a step ladder.

Another object is to provide a ladder of the above character in which one of the ladder units is provided with a plurality of relatively spaced pivotal connecting members adapted to be selectively engaged with the pivotal connecting member of the adjacent section in a manner providing a step ladder capable of assuming an upright position on an angled or stepped. surface in one instance, and on a horizontal surface in another instance.

Various other objects and advantageswill be more fully apparent from the following description which form apart ofthis disclosure, and which illustrate a preferred form of embodiment of the invention. 7 Of the drawings: H a Figure lis a side elevation of the ladder as adjusted-for use as a step ladder on a horizontal'surfacel p p p Fi 2 'a similar elevation of the ladder a ijusteafqr iiseas a step ladder on a stepped stir-race:

of the accompanying drawings Fig. is a side elevation, partly broken, showing the ladder as adjustedfor use as an extension ladder. v

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detailelevation of the pivotal connecting members in cofo'perative engagement, certain parts being broken away.

i Fig. 5 is a section on line 55 of Fig. 6 showing the engagement of one ladder unit against the top rung of the adjacent unit when the units are spread apart as in F igs.

l, 2 and 4. p

Fig 6 is an enlarged section on line 6+6 of Fig. 3. v H I Fig. 7 is a detail elevation similar to'Fig. 4, showing a modified form of construction for limiting the spreading of'the two ladder units.

Fig. 8 is a partial plan view of Fig.7.

Fig. 9 is a View similar to Fig. 7, showing a further modified form of construction. 7

Fig. 10 is a partial plan View of F igge.

Fig. 11 is a view similar tof Fig. 9', showing another modified forin of construction.

Fig. 12 is a dial plan view ofFig. 11. I Fig. 13 is partial elevation looking at Fig. 11 from the right,

Fig. 14 is an enlarged the lower latch. M i i v Referring particularly to Figs. 1 we, the ladder consists of two separable units, one comprising the two relativ ly spaced side rails 1 connected together by transverse rungs 2 and the other unit con'iprising similar side rails 3 and connecting rungs 4, with the side rails 3 relatively spacedso asto en gage inside of the rails 1 and against the rungs 2, as illustrated in Fig. 6.

For the purposes of this description the section or unit havingthe side rails 1 will hereinafter be termed the groundunit and the section or unit having the side rails 3, the extension unit, it beingunderstood that when nsed as an extension ladder the extension nnit is longitudinally superposable and slidable on the ground unit with its side rails 3 e gaging the rungs 2 of thegroiind iinit. Brackets 5 secured to the upper portions of the railsl engage over the rails 3 to guide the units and maintain" the "san elin sliding. engagement and the extension unit is n a ed n. posit qnpf 'v rfl b a iii t:

having hodkedportiii "7 n I detail sectionof. portion of Fig. 3 showlng the side rails" 3aiid engaging over the lowermost rung 1 and an other hooked portion 8 engaging over one of the rungs 2 (see Fig. 14) the structure thus far described provides an extension ladder comprising two separable units relatively longitudinally adjustable to provide a ladder of various lengths.

In constructing the two units so they may be adjusted to form a step ladder we have provided the units with disengageable interlocking brackets comprising a pivot or gudgeon bracket 9011 each of the side rails 1 and cooperating socket brackets 10 on the side rails 23 capable of being brought into cooperative engagement or moved out of cooperative engagement when the units are superposed.

Each pivot connection 9 comprises a plate secured to the outer surface of the respective side rail 1 and extending beyond the edge thereof with the extension having a lateral flange 11 spaced from said edge to provide vertical way 12 and with the lower end of said flange bent upwardly to close the lower end of the way- 12 and form an abutment 13. Adjacent the abutment 13 the edge of the side rail 1 has a recess 1% for a purpose to be later set forth.

Each of the pivotal connecting members 10 consists of a lateral stud projecting outwardly from a plate 15 secured to the re spective side rails 3, the end of said stud being bent upwardly.

By reference to Fig. 4, it will be noted that the top rung 2 is positioned about at thesame level as are the pivotal connecting members 9, also it will be noted by reference to Figs. 1 to 8 that upon each side rail 8 there are two of the pivotal connecting members 10.

In converting the device into a step ladder the latch 6 is disengaged from the rungs 2 and the extension unit slid downwards upon the ground unit until the first pivotal connecting members or studs 10 engage into the respective ways 12 ()1 the pivotal connecting members 9 and the two units are then spread apart-,the upwardly bent ends of the studs 10 entering the recesses or sockets it, so as to pass under the upper edges of the sockets (see Fig. 4) this engagement preventing relative vertical displacement of the two units until they are again collapsed. By so spreading apart the two units, the side rails 3 engage upon the top rung 2 of the ground unit to limit the spreading movement.

When the first or lower pivotal connecting members 10 engage with the brackets 9 the stepladder has the form shown in Fig. 2 adapting it for use on angled or stepped s'urfaces.

If desired to formthe step ladder as shown in Fig. 1, the. respective units. will bemanipulated so that the lower pivotal conutilize the top rung necting members 10 will escape engagement into the ways 12 and the extension unit slid further down to bring the second or upper pivotal connecting members 10 into engagement with the pivotal connecting members 9 in a similar manner as above explained.

In some cases it may not be desirable to 2 as a limit stop for the spreading movement of the two units, therefore, we have shown modified structures providing limit stops of other forms.

The new form shown in Figs. 7 and 8 consists of brackets 15 secured to the inner surfaces of the rails 1 above the pivotal connecting members 9 with their ends bent inwardly into the path of movement of the side rails 3. y

In the form illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10, the brackets 5 and the brackets 15, previously described, are combined into a single movable bracket 16 which is pivoted at 17 on th respective side, rail 1 and has its oppositeends 18 and 19 bent laterally to form arms to extend on opposite sides of the rails 1 and 3. With this construction, during a spreading of the two units the rails 3 engage the lateral extensions or ends 18 and swing the bracket 16 on its pivot 17 until the opposite extensions or ends 19 engage the edges of the rails 1, and when the units are collapsed to form an extension ladder, the rail 3 engages the end 18 and swings the bracket until the end 19 engages the rail 1, as indicated in dotted lines.

The form illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12 operates in a similar manner, but instead of being a pivoted member the stop 20 is slidable through a strap bolt 21.

The bracket members 9 and the gudgeons 10 are so constructed that when the ladder units are interlocked in the manner indi cated in Figure i the gudgeons and the brackets 9 permit an unrestricted movement of the ladder units in adjusting them to set up the device as a step ladder. For this reason there is no torsional strain whatever upon the hinge connection which the interlocking brackets form. The strain of holding the ladder units against spreading is borne by means independent of the gridgeons. j

While the above described mechanism is well adapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated it is to be understood that we do not wish to limit our invention to the embodiment disclosed herein as it is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, all coming within the scope of the following claims.

WVe claim: 2 I

1. In a ladder of the kind described the combination of a pair of ladder units, said ladder units having interlocking brackets disengageable by manipulation of the units, enabling the sameto be interlockedas with a hinge connection-,- anda movable yoke on one ladder unit adjacent to the brackets having lateral extensions at its ends for engaging the ladder units, operating as a stop in one position to limit the opening swinging movement of the ladder units and operating as a guide when one ladder unit is superposed on the other, to lock the ladder units in their superposed position.

2. In a ladder of the kind described, the combination of a pair of ladder units, said ladder units having interlocking brackets carried respectively by the units, and disengageable by manipulatlon ot the units, and enabling the same to be 1nterlooked as with a hinge connection, and a movable yoke on one ladder unit adjacent to the brackets having lateral extensions at its ends for engaging the ladder units, operating as a stop in one position to limit the opening swinging movement of the ladder units and operating as a guide when one ladder unitis superposed on the other, to lock the ladder units in their superposed position, and means at another point for connecting two opposite rungs of the ladder units to prevent. longitudinal movement of the upper unit on the lower unit.

8. In a ladder of the kind described, the combination of a pair of ladder units, said ladder units having interlocking brackets disengageable by manipulation of the units, enabling the same to be interlocked as with a hinge connection, and a movable yoke on one ladder unit adjacent to the brackets having lateral extensions at its ends for engaging the ladder units, operating as a stop in one position to limit the opening swinging movement of the ladder units and ope 'ating as a guide when one ladder unit is superposed on the other, to lock the ladder units in their superposed position, and a plate attached to one of the ladder units having a socket in its edge for engaging over a rung of each of the ladder units and operating to hold the ladder units together.

4. In a ladder of the kind described, the combination of a pair of ladder units, in terlocking bracket members attached respectively to the ladder units and constructed so as to be disengageable from each other by manipulation of the units, said interlocking brackets ope-rating as a hinge connection for the ladder units when connected and operating to permit an unrestricted opening and closing movement of the angle formed by the ladder units in setting the same up as a ing movement step ladder, and a yoke secured to one of the ladder units and having a pair of laterally projecting arms, said arms operating when the ladder units are set up as a step ladder, to limit the swinging movement of the ladder units on the joint connection, and having a second position operating to hold one of the ladder units on the other when they are superposed upon each other to form an extension ladder.

5. In a combination step ladder and extension ladder, the combination of a pair of ladder units, socket brackets carried by one of the units, a gudgeon carried by the other ladder unit at each side cooperating respectively with the sockets, said sockets having an upper opening whereby the gud geons may enter the sockets from above, said sockets further having bottoms limiting the downward movement of the gudgeons and having edges operating to eX- tend over the upper edges of the gudgeons when the ladder units are swung apart to form an angle, thereby lockingthe ladder units together, means independent of the brackets for limiting the outward swingof the ladder units when con nected, and other means cooperating with the last named means to enable the ladder units to be held superposed and one extended upon the other when the brackets have been disengaged from each other.

6. A combination extension and step ladder comprising two separable units longitudinally slidable relative to each other for use as an extension ladder, interlocking connecting brackets fixed to each unit respectively, for cooperative engagement to form a hinged connection permitting the units to be spread apart for use as a step ladder, and a stop member movably mounted on one unit having a position in which it extends into the path ofswing of the other unit to limit the spreading of the units when form ing a step ladder, and having a second position in which it operates as a guide to maintain the units in sliding engagement in another instance.

Signed at Los Angeles, 21st day of December, 1921.

EDWARD F. GIVENS. LYCURGUS LINDSAY.

Witnesses:

CLARENCE B. FosTnR, L. BELLE WEAVER.

California, this 

